James 4:9

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Majority Standard Bible

In The King James Version

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

In Context

8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Read all of James 4

Cross References

Job 30:31My harp is tuned to mourning and my flute to the sound of weeping.

Psalms 119:71It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.

Psalms 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

Ecclesiastes 2:2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

Isaiah 22:12On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.

Jeremiah 31:13Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

Matthew Henry on James 4:2-11

Origin of War and Contention; Against Pride; Submission to God. ( a. d. 61.) 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study James 4:9